According to the National Association of REALTORS®, homeowners typically live in their home for 10 years before selling. While that may be the average time frame, there’s no crystal ball to predict how long a home will work for each one of us. When it comes down to it, the reasons for selling — and the timing — vary from household to household.

Here are a few telltale signs that selling might be the right move for you.

You’ve home no longer matches your lifestyle
That two-bedroom starter home worked great before kids, but now that your family has grown, you really need more space. Or, maybe you’re an empty nester living in a large home and the constant upkeep is starting to wear on you. A home should be a place of comfort, so if your current living situation is causing stress, it might be time to pack your bags.

Your financial situation changed
Sometimes the reason for selling is driven by need, not want. Divorce, job loss, illness, or the death of a spouse are all unfortunate circumstances that can seriously impact a homeowner’s financial situation. If you experience a major life event and find it hard to manage the mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance costs, you may need to sell and find a more affordable option.

Home improvements projects are wrapped up
In today’s market, homes that are priced right will sell quickly, if they’re in good condition. REALTOR® Rob Buffington with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Tomie Raines REALTORS® says that caveat is important for homeowners to remember.

“In the past, sellers could get away with a few unfinished projects or some needed upgrades, but today’s buyers want move-in ready, and they won’t settle,” he said. “You live in a house one way, but you sell it in another. We have to ensure our houses are in pristine condition before we put them on the market, and an experienced REALTOR® can help facilitate that.”

You can afford to sell
Remember, there are costs involved in selling a home. Depending on when you purchased, and how much equity you have, you could come out on top, or find yourself in the red. If your home’s sale price is enough to pay off your mortgage and related selling costs, or better yet, give you a significant return on your investment, it could be a good time to enter the market.

“The timing has to be right for the seller and it has to make financial sense,” said Buffington. “If a homeowner has to pay to sell their home, I would advise them to hold off, if possible, and wait until the property increases in value, they pay down the mortgage, or both.”

You want in on a hot seller’s market
The biggest reason any homeowner decides to sell is, of course, money. We all want to make a profit when it comes time to sell. So, when you hear the house down the street sold for much more than expected, it can definitely sway your decision.

But, Buffington says even in a seller’s market, the decision to sell is very individualized.

“We have to look at what’s going on in the market, as well as how a particular home is perceived in the market,” he said. “Yes, your neighbor may have sold for over asking price, but his house is not the same as yours, and market conditions may now be different. While we’ll definitely consider neighborhood comparables, we also have to evaluate each individual property.”

To get the best price for your home, the key is to pair a good selling situation with strong market conditions. If we knew exactly when that perfect moment was, we would all be millionaires. For now, the best chance any seller has for a successful and profitable sale is to seek the advice of a professional and trusted REALTOR®.

“Our job is to ask the right questions to uncover our seller’s ‘why,’” said Buffington. “Once we understand their needs and know what’s most important to them, we can help develop a plan to get their home on the market when it’s right for them, both financially and emotionally.”

If you’ve been tossing around the idea of listing your home and need some expert guidance, consult a professional member of the Greater Lansing of Association of REALTORS®. A listing of experienced, local agents is available at www.lansing-realestate.com.